Read time: 2 min

“How to Read a Book” is a classic book by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren that outlines a method for reading and understanding books more effectively. The authors argue that reading is not just a passive activity, but an active process of engaging with the text and extracting meaning from it.

The authors suggest that there are different levels of reading, with each level requiring a different approach:

The first level is “elementary reading,” which is the basic ability to read and understand the words on the page.
The second level is “inspectional reading,” which is a more systematic and efficient way of reading that allows you to quickly assess the contents and structure of a book.
The third level is “analytical reading,” which is a deeper and more critical way of reading that involves actively engaging with the ideas and arguments presented in the book.

To achieve the third level, the authors suggest using a variety of techniques such as identifying the main ideas and arguments, questioning the author’s assumptions, evaluating the evidence and reasoning, and assessing the author’s style and tone.

Adler and Van Doren also recommend reading a book multiple times, each time with a different goal in mind. For example, the first time you read a book, you might focus on understanding the main ideas, while the second time you might focus on understanding the author’s style and tone.

They also suggest taking notes and keeping a reading journal as a way to better understand and remember the book’s content.

The book also stresses the importance of reading a variety of books in different genres and from different historical periods, in order to expand your knowledge and understanding of the world.

Overall, the authors argue that reading is an active and ongoing process that requires engagement, reflection, and analysis in order to fully understand and appreciate a book. By following their method, readers will be able to extract more meaning and knowledge from the books they read.